KFF February Health Tracking Poll: Nearly Half Confused About Status of the Health Reform Law

In the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, nearly half of Americans say they are confused about the status of the health reform law. While 52 percent of the public is aware that health reform is still law, 22 percent think the law has been repealed and is no longer law and another 26 percent are not sure.

Americans are still divided about what they want lawmakers to do on health reform. Three in ten say Congress should expand the law, and two in ten vote for the status quo – leaving the law to be implemented as enacted. On the other hand, four in ten want it repealed – with half of those hoping to see it replaced with a “Republican-sponsored alternative” and the other half wanting no further action. Even as the GOP vows to block the law by stripping funding for implementation, most Americans (61 percent) – including majorities of Democrats and independents – continue to oppose this tactic, although most Republicans (59 percent) favor it. The most common reason people choose for their opposition to defunding health reform is that it doesn’t seem like “the way our government should work”.